jusnice wrote:SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

Why would Martin kill off Snow? So annoyed right now and maybe he comes back as some Wight or something, but I am so pissed right now. I feel like Martin wastes so much time on building these ancillary plots and characters only to have them killed - Qwentyn Martell for example! Snow was becoming one of my favorite story lines. So, who do we have left from the original that still interests me? Arya is about it. Cannot stand the Dany and Cersei stories anymore, although the end w/ her uncle getting killed by Varys was pretty cool.

Does anyone know what is going on w/ Rickon? Of all the Starks that started the series, most are dead and I'm hoping Martin brings them back to prominence. I guess I have a soft side for that family. Sorry to complain, but I'm feeling a bit exasperated right now.

Who do you think were Jon Snow's parents?
Most people do not believe that Ned was his real father. This is the biggest controvery. Many hints otherwise. I believe, and many others do as well, that Jon's parents were Prince Rhaegar and Lyanna Stark. Then Jon wouldn't be Jon Snow the bastard, but rather Jon Targaryen, heir to the Iron Throne.

The problem with this book was that it became too long so they cut the last 3 or 4 chapters. Conflicts didn't get fully resolved and we are left hanging.

Rickon seems to be on the island of Skagos, off the northeast shore of Westeros. According to legend cannibals live there so everyone stays away. Davos was sent by Wyman Manderly to find Rickon and bring him back.

martin wrote:

BasketballJones wrote:Martin writes Novels in addition to running this here web site? I'm impressed.

Multi-tasking.

He only get's away with it because of the crack interns he keeps on staff. Right, Bip?

Markji wrote:

jusnice wrote:Good stuff Mark, thanks. I'll check it out. Do you think Rickon becomes a main character in the next two novels?

I think a little bit more since Davos went to find him so there will be some new adventure with that. But Rickon is only 5 or 6 yrs old. Maybe 7 by next book. Kind of young to play a major part. I am looking forward to seeing what Arya is going to do. She and Jon are my favorite characters also.

Assuming that Bolton's bastard lied about defeating Stannis's forces, where would that leave Lord Manderly and his agreement with Davos? With no Davos around, it will be hard for the fat man to prove that he has been working with Stannis all along. If Stannis is dead, than the plan falls apart anyway. Manderly has the wealth, but I'm not sure he has the men to establish the Starks as the ruling lords of the north again. Then again, Manderly could be working with someone else.

On a side note, I fear that Martin won't be able to finish the series given his age and health. I haven't been this nervous since Stephen King had that serious accident during the Dark Tower series.

jusnice wrote:

Markji wrote:

jusnice wrote:Good stuff Mark, thanks. I'll check it out. Do you think Rickon becomes a main character in the next two novels?

I think a little bit more since Davos went to find him so there will be some new adventure with that. But Rickon is only 5 or 6 yrs old. Maybe 7 by next book. Kind of young to play a major part. I am looking forward to seeing what Arya is going to do. She and Jon are my favorite characters also.

I tried looking at the forum you shared - way too many threads to navigate, wow, there are some serious fans out there!!

I guess I have a soft spot for the Starks since it all started with them and the wolves. I'm getting a little tired of Martin's style and really hope he can bring it all together in these next two novels. I agree with BigDaddy, I don't want Martin to go all Robert Jordan on us and end up having his last novel split into like three different novels...but, my gut tells me he already has most of this stuff written.

With Bran going all nature on us and turning into something I don't fully understand, (what is that by the way) I feel like either Ayra wins the throne in the end...what do you guys think?

It will be hard for Arya since she is a female. Women in Westeros have little value politically unless they are being used as a bargaining chip for marriage. Plus, Sansa is older and has, arguably, the games most cunning player by her side. The Stark's hopes for the north fall on the little shoulders of Rickon for the time being and Rickon's situation is tenuous.

How long do you guys think Theon will last. Stannis could make a big statement to the rest of the north by executing the man who betrayed the Winterfell.

So I think the series will end with the defeat of Winter and the Others, a rebirth of peace in the Kingdoms and a Return of the King who will sit the Iron Throne. Spring is the season of rebirth and Awakening. Similar ending to Lord of the Rings.

Jusnice - I'll try to direct you to one or 2 threads. There are some people with incredible knowledge of the books and especially the foreshadowing and little hints the George Martin throws in throughout the books.
I had a double hernia operation last week and so I've been down and trying to recover.

My feeling is that Bran will take over the seat in Winterfell. Just a feeling and a few clues. Bran wanted to be a knight, but being crippled he couldn't. but still he knew and used the courtesies of a Lord to his underlords. He is being trained to be the good, wise Lord. I don't think his destiny is to meld into a tree like Bloodraven. Remember, Bloodraven keeps telling him that he will fly.

A little clue to me about Bran was when Robb, his older brother and Lord of Winterfell when their father was killed, met with the war council. Robb sat in his usual chair which was beside his fathers, the Chair of the Lord of Winterfell. When Bran was carried in, he had Hodor place Bran in their father's chair, perhaps a clue meaning that Bran would be the Lord of Winterfell. It may seem insignificant but these are the little hints that George Martin throws out throughout the novels and keeps everyone guessing.

I am waiting to see what Arya will become. Will she become an assassin, a faceless man, or a "She-Wolf", bond with Nymeria and kick some ass back in Westeros. She is exciting, willful, totally uninhibited and unpredictable. One of my favorite characters.

Big D - Yes Theon. He has changes so much from the irresponsible ward of Ned Stark; to conqueror of Winterfell; to prisoner; to Reek; and then savior of the pretending Arya. I think he will regain some of his dignity and hopefully die heroically.

Markji wrote:I'll leave you with a tantalizing mystery from Book 5 to think about.
Who do you think Septa LeMore really is?
Who do you think Aegon really is, who Septa LeMore taught and helped raise?

I think Aegon is really Aegon. I don't think Conningtong would lie about that and It's simple enough to switch infants. Aegon's sister on the other hand would have been tougher to fake. As for leMore, it's obvious that she wasn't a Septa. Tyrion made that point crystal clear with his observation. Maybe it's the Dayne broad that Ned Stark allegedly 'deflowered'?

I have other questions. What ever happened to Ned Dayne? He is the last of a notable line and it would be a shame for it to die out. And where is Cat Stark's uncle, the one who escaped the Lannister encroachment up to? Is someone hiding him or is he dead? Also,there has been a lot of discussion over who will carry out the Stark name, but we still don't have any idea what happened to Benjen? Is it possible that the three-eyed crow saved him and sent him on another mission?

Last thing, three-eyes made it a point to tell Bran to embrace the darkness and the shadows. This is in contrast to Melisandre's beliefs. At one point Melisandre even sees three-eyes in her flames and assumes that he is the enemy. Are the 'others' really soldiers of the Old God of the North and is Bran working for the enemy? Are the Others really the enemy?